A life-saving decision
It is amazing how a last-minute decision can change your life. At some point, anybody that has spent time outdoors had a decision to make — shell out our hard-earned cash on some sort of hope-to-never-use safety equipment or take our chances without it.
With a price tag of over $800, few recreational boaters are willing to spend the money on a satellite-based emergency beacon like an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon). With fuel and tackle costs to worry about, a rarely used piece of emergency equipment is near the bottom of the must-have list.
That’s what a California trio of boaters thought when the planned their offshore adventure on 32-foot sailboat. But a worrisome father knew better. That’s why, at the last minute, he spent $65 to rent an EPIRB for a week and sent it out to sea with his daughter. It turned out to be a lifesaving decision.
While the weather was calm on the East Coast last weekend, in northern California, it was blowing a gale, pushing seas up to 20 feet. It got so bad, it was obvious to the three boaters their lives were in serious danger. Moments after summoning help by activating their rented EPIRB, the high seas flipped their boat, tossing them into the Pacific’s frigid waters.
Within minutes of hitting a switch on the beacon, the Coast Guard was on their way with an MH-65C Dolphin
There is no doubt, her father’s last-minute decision to spend some money and pack an EPIRB saved all three lives. Money is tight, but when lives are on the line, there is no substitute for having the proper equipment.
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